Thursday

Kings--Raleigh duo The Vints comes at us with their debut, a four-song cycle--"Sneaker," "Scratch," "Sing About It" and "Sprawled"--about the love bug, capped by two live cuts. I call it the "the love bug" because that's how lyricist Nick Pyll deals with it: Sometimes it drives him, but sometimes it just drives him crazy. It's major-chord acoustic ambrosia with big intentions, and it's infinitely inviting, even if somewhat expected. Two of the Triangle's most noteworthy young songwriters at the helm of two of the Triangle's most noteworthy young bands lead the way in the one and two slots: Schooner's Reid Johnson and Hearts & Daggers' Kevin Wolfe start it off at 10 p.m.

Anthony B

Lincoln Theatre--Jamaican reggae star Anthony Blair followed a circuitous path to his current status as a popular and culture-conscious songwriter. His background spans a reggae artist's traditional trials and tribulations, with a smattering of lead-off vinyl singles and, eventually, albums that caught on with politicized lyrics and accessible beats and production. Afrikan consciousness personified, this bobo dread speaks not only for himself. The show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are $22.